Dressmaker&#39;s pattern



Nov. 19, 1946. M, wl Ma|\|, L\Bl Y 2,411,328

DRESSMAKERS PATTERN Filed May 13. 1942 e@ ea @/jb w Q Q 7@ W Nac/Na WEAKADHESW; J "Figi l 5% 0? CD5/WDW@ 4% www Patented Nov. 19, 1946 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2,411,328 DnEssMAKERs PATTERN Marian W. MacNab,Chevy Chase, Md. Application May 13, 1942, Serial No. 442,812

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to dressmakers patterns and the like; and itcomprises a dressmakers pattern formed of the usual thin, tissue-likepal per, Cellophane, or other similar material, provided with means fortemporarily securing the pattern to fabric, as for instance fabric piecegoods, said means being advantageously a relatively weak adhesive of thenondrying pressure sensitive type and adapted by controlling itscomposition or manner or extent of use to provide suf cient fastening ofthe pattern to the fabric for the purposes usually intended while at thesame time enabling removal of the pattern therefrom without tearing orrupturing it, the pattern so provided being normally capable of use andreuse a number of times before exhaustion of the adhesive, all as morefully hereinafter set `forth and as claimed. l

Dressmakers patterns generally consist of a number of individualpiecesof thin, light weight, tissue-like paper, representing thedifferent component parts of a garment or the like. Each piece is cutfull size and serves as a guide for marking and cutting out exactlysimilar parts `from the cloth fabric material. In use the fabric isordinarly laid on a large flat surface such as a table top and thedifferent pieces of the pattern are correctly positioned thereonrelative to the weave and size of the material according to directionswhich accompany the pattern. When properly positioned, the pattern ispinned to the fabric with common straight pins to secure it in placeduring the cutting and marking operations. Pinning, however, is not analtogether simple or satisfactory method. Not only is it atime-consuming operation, but the fabric, with the pattern lying thereonis not easy, convenient or pleasant to handle. Besides being thin andlight, the material of the pattern is not very strong and is easilyruptured and torn. l

Also, generally, patterns have a relatively hard, smooth, polishedsurface due to calendering in the manufacture of the paper of which theyare made and they exhibit a marked crispness in contrast to thelithelike character of the fabric. Thus in handling, the pattern isinclined to slip or creep on the fabric and during pinning, bulges andwrinkles invariably occur. The operation is particularly troublesomewhen performed by one not skilled in dressmaking, or one who has not`acquired the knack As a result a certain amount of re-pinning is usuallyresorted to, to make the pattern lay at and smooth on the cloth and thisin turn results in a change in the position of the pattern relative tothe fabric.

Sometimes the pattern when finally pinned is actually askew and whilenot noticeable at the time, a mis or mis-hang of the finished garmentmay frequently be traced back to this error in originally securing thepattern to the cloth. Even when the operation is performed by anexperienced person, the pattern nearly always has to be smoothed outover the fabric with the hands after it is pinned and this results inslight tears at some of the pins, and as stated above, some dislocationof the pattern.

Often, although the pattern is of the correct size it is necessary, inorder to secure a proper t, to alter it somewhat, as byshortening orlengthening the same. For this purpose the various parts of the patternare pinned together in the way that pieces of fabric cut therefrom wouldbe fitted and the pattern so pinned is triedon the person or subject forwhich the garment or covering is being made. lshortening or lengtheningis always made in the body portions of the pattern and is accomplishedby folding over and pinning or by cutting and inserting additionalmaterial respectively. Insertions are made by pinning the edges of theadded paper material to the adjacent edges of the pattern. This can beand frequently is an awkward and cumbersome operation requiringconsiderable patience and skill. Tearingof the pattern is most likely tooccur and handling in general is disagreeable if not dangerous due tosticking of the pins in the fingers and hands and the possibility ofconsequent scratches and wounds being serious or becoming so byinfection.

A dangerous habit of the dressmaker during these operations is theholding Vof a number of pins in the mouth for ready accessibility.

Among the objects of the present invention are: the avoidance of theabove and other difficulties well known to those experienced in the art;the provision of a dressmakers pattern carrying adhesive means forsecuring the pattern to fabric or the like; the provision of a patternthat may be applied to fabric by simply laying the same thereon and, ifnecessary, sliding or moving the same into the exact position desiredand then securing the same to the fabric by simply pressing the patternto the fabric with the fingers at desired or predetermined designatedplaces, the provision of a dressmakers pattern that will save much timein use, is inexpensive in manufacture and simple to use. These objectsand others are accomplished by the present invention as will be apparentfrom the following description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing wherein for purposes of illustration there areshown several forms of a single embodiment of the invention and wherein:

Figs, 1, 2, and 3 are bottom plan views of a part of a pattern showingadhesive applied directly to the pattern in three different ways.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View showing a part of a pattern applied to a pieceof fabric wherein adhesive tabs are applied around the edges of thepattern.

Fig. 5` is a perspective', bottom plan view of one form of tab.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail View in cross section showing the use of adifferent form of tab for securing the pattern to fabric.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a fragment of a.

pattern secured to a piece of fabric. by means of, disks carryingadhesive and positioned over perforations in Ithe pattern. The disks areshown applied to both sides or facesv of the pattern so that. thepattern may beused with either face up.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along line 8 8 of Fig.'7 looking in the direction 0f the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a top plan View of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along line IIl--I 0of Figi),y and Fig. 11 is an enlarged. detailview par-tly in section ofa further modied form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals indicate correspondingparts` throughout Ithe several. views, I2 designates a pattern formed ofthe usual. thin tissue or .tissue-like paper, and the numeral I3.designatesv adhesive i or securing the pattern to fabric or the like,designated by the' numeral. I4. Theadhesive. may be of the dextrin orpostage stamp type requiring slight moistening` as with the. wettedfinger or itv advantageousl'ymay be of` the non-drying, pressuresensitive type commonly used on the product known as, Scotchtapemanufactured by the Minnesota Mining. and Manufacturing Company of St.Paul, Minnesota. Advantageously, the adhesive used is relatively weak,i. e. it should not be. so strong that the. bond it forms with thefabric causes tearing of the pattern when. the. pattern is. removed bysimply peeling it away from the fabric. Weakened vadhesives of the type.referred to are. se-

cured by simply diluting .the adhesives, of the usual strength. or. byincorporating -or adding to. them inert fillers. y

Referring more specifically to Figs. 1. 2 and 3 the adhesive I3 is shownapplied at designated places directly to the pattern. For this purpose.Y

the material of the pattern may be treated or coated to prevent theadhesive from penetrating through the pattern to the opposite side. Ifdesiredv the adhesive may be applied to both sides of the` pattern aswhere the pattern is first used with one face next to the fabric to markor cut out a right-hand design and then simply turnedv over to mark outa left-hand design. In this case,

however, .the location of the adhesive on one side. of the patternshould be staggered relative to the .7,

sive are. best determined by the location andr number-of pins. thatwouldV be necessary or desirable if. the pattern were. .to be pinned. tothe fabric. In. Fig. 2 the adhesive is shown applied,

in the form of parallel, diagonal stripes which form may be desirablefrom a manufacturing standpoint because of its independency from theshape of the pattern itself. The paper from which the pattern is out maybe provided in advance with these parallel diagonal stripes of adhesive.In Fig. 3, the adhesive is shown applied as a continuous marginal borderabout the periphery of the pattern. For small pieces of pattern thisform i'ssorn'eti'mes desirable.

Fig. 4 shows a modied form of the invention in which the pattern isprovided with .tabs I5 which extend beyond the edges of .the pattern andcarry the adhesive I3 for securing the pattern to the fabric. For .thispurpose the tabs, which are preferably made of stronger, heavier weightmaterial than the pattern, are advantageouslysecured to the pattern witha stronger adhesive than adhesive I3, so that when once aiiixed to thepattern .they may be considered to be permanently secured thereto as faras. their separation therefrom is concerned. Sometimes, however, it is.desirable to furnish the tabs separate from the pattern so that they maybe secured :at Ithe will and discretion of the user of the pattern. Inthis case the .adhesive securing the tabv to the pattern can be evenweaker than the adhesive portion of the tab used to secure the tab tothe fabric. A bottom view of such a tab is. shown in perspective in Fig.5, the strong adhesive-bearing portion being designatedv by the numeralI6 and Ithe weaker adhesive-bearing portionv by the4 number I3.

Fig. 6- shows a construction similar lto Fig. 4 with the exception thatthe tabs I5 are applied tothe underside of the body of the patterninside the peripherial edges, il e. they do not extend beyond the edgesof the pattern. For thispurpose. the tabs are coated on the sideneXt tothe pattern withA strong adhesive and on the side. next` to the fabricvwith weak adhesive.

In, the embodiments of the invention so far particularly described it isnecessaryin order that the. pattern may befolded upon itself forpackaging and distribution without the use of a slip sheet, Ithat theadhesive I3 be of. insufficientv strength tov cause tearing of thepattern'. due to. ther folded portions. sticking.- together when. thepattern. is unfolded., To a` limited extent.. the strength. of theadhesive. may be, made greater thev less. adhesive surface.. presented,.as where small. dots of. adhesive are used in place. of. wide bands orstripes.

In Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive,v there are shown several. modifications ofthe, invention in which the application of the adhesive to the patternis such that in normal folding` and handling,v the adhesivedoesv notcome in contactA with adjacent or opposite folded portions of thepattern.

In Fig. 7 the pattern is. perforated'` as shown at I1. and small discsI`8` provided with adhesive on one side are secured to opposite faces ofthe. pattern over the perforations so. as lto expose. through theperforations inthe pattern, the adhesive I3 on the underside of thediscs. The pattern thus constructed may be. secured tc-the fabric -ordress material with either face down by applying iinger-tip pressure tothe discs. on the. upper side of the pattern over the. perforations..The discs so pressed are deformedslightly to bring. the. adhesiveincontact with the fabricas shown inFig. 8.

Instead. of circular perforations V shaped. notches, I 9 may beA cutinthe edges of the. pattern Y and rectangular tabs 20 applied thereoverin: a.

like manner to the application of the discs just described.

In the modification shown in Fig. 11, the material of the pattern isembossed as at 2|, at suitable points and the bottom of the hollowportions so provided, supplied with adhesive. Here again the pattern issecured to the fabric by applying a slight finger-tip pressure to theembossed portions as shown to temporarily iiatten them and bring theadhesive in contact with the fabric. If desired, the material of thepattern may be reinforced at the embossed portions.

The modifications shown in Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive are particularlyuseful when the adhesive employed is of the non-drying pressuresensitive type. This is because, with the constructions shown, there islittle or no sticking of the pattern to itself when folded and thepattern may be packaged and sold Without a slip sheet.

When non-drying pressure sensitive adhesive is used in the modificationsshown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, it is preferably of weak strength asheretofore described to prevent tearing of the pattern during theoperation of unfolding immediately prior to use. Sometimes it isdesirable to use a Weak dextrine postage stamp type dry adhesive. Inthis case a simple wetting of the adhesive with the finger at a fewplaces during application of the pattern to the fabric is all that isrequired to secure a sufficient bond. The unwetted spots or portions maythen serve for a second application of the pattern in cases where it isdesired to use the pattern over again.

Of the large number of known adhesive compositions, both of the dryingand non-drying pressure sensitive types, the best for the presentpurposes are those that do not stain or come off on the fabric. In anyevent, the adhesive used should be soluble in a common dry-cleanersolvent or in water so that should a small quantity of adhesive remainon the fabric after use of the pattern it may be easily and quicklyremoved with one or the other, depending upon the nature of the adhesiveand the fabric.

The adhesiveness or bonding strength of the adhesive used may, ofcourse, be adjusted by the addition of a diluent or inert filler to theadhesive but, as stated above, bondage may also be controlled to alimited extent by area of the adhesive surfaces. the stripes may besimply thin, narrow lines or the perforations in the pattern or spots ofadhesive on the pattern may be small in-area or simply small dotsrespectively.

The bondage strength of the adhesive need be little more than thatnecessary to support the weight of the pattern to the fabric, and itshould not be so great as to prevent removal of the pattern from thefabric without tearing the pattern if it is desired to use the pattern asecond time. With some fabrics the minute amount of fuzz which sticks tothe adhesive When the pattern is removed is greater than with otherfabrics but in no case has the loss of fuzz been detectable in theappearance of the fabric. Also in no case has the minute amountof fuzzpicked up by the adhesive sufiiciently deadened its adhesiveness so thatit could not be used again.

The pattern herein provided is extremely simple and easy to use and is agreat time saver. Its use eliminates the drudgery of pinning and enablesmuch more accurate marking, cutting, fitting and sewing of the fabric.These improve- Thus for a strong adhesive,

ments are all reflected in the appearance and quality of the finishedgarment which ordinarily can be no better than the pattern from which itis made.

What I claim is:

1. As a marketable commodity a dressmakers pattern formed of thin tissuepaper provided with perforations at points suitable for attachment ofthe pattern in operative position on fabric, and adhesive means carriedby the pattern over said perforations for securing the pattern to fabricby adhesive engagement with the fabric through the Derforations.

2. As a marketable commodity a dressmakers pattern formed of thintissue-like paper provided with cut-out portions, means adhesivelysecured to said pattern over said cut-out portions, and

adhesive on said means in said cut-out portions for securing the patternto fabric.

3. As a marketable commodity a dressmakers pattern formed of thintissue-like paper, embossed portions provided in the surface of saidpattern and non-drying pressure sensitive adhesive carried by saidpattern in the hollow of said embossed portions for securing the same tofabric.

4. As a marketable commodity, the combination of a dressmakers patternformed of thin tissue-like paper and non-drying pressure sensitiveadhesive means secured to said tissue-like paper pattern at localitieswhere pins are normally used, at least portions of said adhesive beingexposed and operative to removably and repeatedly secure the pattern tofabric dress material.

5. As a marketable commodity, a dressmakers pattern formed of thintissue paper provided with perforations at points suitable forattachment of the pattern in operative position on fabric, andnon-drying, pressure sensitive adhesive means carried by the patternover said perforations for securing the pattern to fabric by adhesiveengagement with the fabric through the perforations.

6. As a marketable commodity, a dressmakers pattern formed 0f thintissue-like paper, adhesive means xedly carried by said pattern andoffset therefrom above and out of the plane of the lower surface of thepattern which contacts the fabric for temporarily securing the patternto the fabric, said adhesive means being distortable by application oflight pressure into contact with the fabric.

7. As a marketable commodity a dressmakers pattern formed of thintissue-like paper provided With cut-out portions, means secured to saidpattern over said cut-out portions and offset above and out of the planeof the lower surface of the pattern which contacts the fabric, saidmeans having adhesive properties and being distortable by applicationsof light pressure into contact With the fabric to temporarily attach thepattern to the fabric.

8. As a marketable commodity, a dressmakers pattern formed of thintissue-like paper and provided With a substantially weak non-dryingpressure sensitive adhesive distributed polka dot fashion over the faceof the pattern that lays next to the fabric when the pattern is in use,the size and number of said polka dot of adhesive and their distributionbeing coordinated with the strength of the adhesive to provide for readyremovability of the pattern from the fabric without tearing.

MARIAN W. MAcNAB.

